To what extent are organisations socially constructed phenomena Essay - 2

To what extent are organisations socially constructed phenomena - Essay Example In any case, the understanding of the relationship between organizations and society requires the following practice: each aspect of organizations has to be analyzed as of its potential interaction with social norms. In this context, change, culture and symbolism, as important elements of modern organizations, are analyzed and interpreted using appropriate theoretical frameworks. The relationship between organization and society is close but it can be periodically alternated under the influence of the local political and economic environment. 2. Organizations as socially constructed phenomena 2.1 Organization and society In order to understand the level at which society influences organizational practices, it would be necessary to refer to certain of the frameworks used for explaining the organizational ethics and structure, as parts of the organizational strategy for achieving the organizational mission. ... Organizations, as business units operating within a particular society, cannot avoid the influences from the society. This fact is reflected in various parts/ characteristics of organizations. For example, each organization is based on its workforce, a group of people having to perform specific tasks in various organizational departments. Society is constructed by groups of people, i.e. ‘families, peer groups and work groups’ (Tischler 2010, p.127) that cooperate for developing specific social or economic activities. In the study of Carroll et al. (2008) reference is made to another common element of society and organization: the technology. Technology, in various forms, is critical for the success of business operations. However, technology is also involved in the interests of the public. The most common example of this type is the technology used in healthcare organizations. The technology used in communications is another example where the intervention of technology i n social activities is made clear. In the context of its mission each organization is expected to invest on technology, which is expected to support the organizational growth. However, this practice may come in opposition to exiting social ethics. An indicative example of this case is included in the study of Carroll et al. (2008, p.352): biotechnology is a sector highly developed the last decades as it can help to the development of effective treatment for a series of diseases; however, this technology is also used for promoting activities which are not accepted by the society, as, for example, the research on cloning. Organizations that operate in the specific industry often have to face the strong opposition of the public, a fact indicating that the